Medicare/ Medicaid

Medicare is a federal program that pays for certain healthcare expenses for individuals age 65 or older. MHA monitors prospective and recently implemented changes to Medicare and MassHealth, provides information about how specific aspects of the programs affect care providers, and advocates for fair and equitable implementation of the program.

The Trump Administration released its budget blueprint for federal fiscal year 2020 last week and, by any measure, it does not contain good news for Medicaid, Medicare, hospitals, or coverage expansion.

Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), along with several Democratic Senate and House members, including House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), announced the release of three bills intended to lower drug prices.

A U.S. District Court has issued a permanent injunction to CMS, halting the federal government’s nearly 30% reduction in reimbursements to certain hospital outpatient departments purchasing drugs through the 340B program.